For Erika...

"You know, as a 21 year old gay person that's very active in the church, watching this video, all I can say is that from my perspective, its just... ick... gross and disturbing, I guess would be the most accurate words to describe it. I mean, It makes it seem as though the only way I'd like something, being gay, is if a gross stereotype of myself were to tell me it likes me. In my opinion, you might as well have had the episcopal church go to a black rights parade with a black man dressed up in overalls, a straw hat, bare feet, and carrying a bucket of chicken and a slice of watermelon saying, "Thems Episcopals church shaw dooos luvs us!!" Would that make the average black person want to go? Perhaps it's a generational thing. When I came out, I had the support of my family, my friends, and my church, which is of course, this one, and I'm very thankful for that. Yet, because I was never really berated once in my life for being gay, I never got into the whole, "Gay Pride" movement. Honestly, i've never been to one, yet from what I've seen, they serve no purpose to further gay rights. If anything they hinder them. Coming from a small conservative southern town, and going to a rather conservative college, I can tell you that I've changed more hearts and minds on the subject of homosexuality and Christianity just by being myself, and not changing who I am once I came out. That in itself was a great witness it turned out, as everyones opinions of gay people here, even the ones who were questioning there own sexuality, were that gay people had to have a lisp, love gucci, and wear neon green short-shorts and hot pink tank tops with glitter. I can tell you that at the church I go to now, which is part of the episcopal church yet divided on the issue of homosexuality, that is exactly the type of picture the people who are against homosexuality think of when they think of it. They know no other than what they've been shown, and that's what they've been shown. Those are the people we need to change. I can tell you right now, from great experience and knowing the culture quite well, there is an old conservative southern episcopalian women in her house right now. Shes probably gone to the same church for 70 something years. She's vaguely confused at all the changes in her church thats sort of just swept around her without her really understanding them, but she goes anyways. Shes heard about the some people leaving the church about the gays, and about how some bishop in new hampshire is one, but it doesn't really effect her, so its just rumors she hears at ECW meetings. Somehow, just the way life works, she will see this video. Every single opinion shes ever had of the gays, will be confirmed. All the rumors shes heard about the church, however untrue they might be, must be true. From being slightly opposed simply because her friends are, she is now vehemently against the gays, seeing what they are really like, and in the church, no less! Disgusted at how her church has somehow turned into the video she saw, she'll stop going to that church. (Trust me, people I know have stopped going for less.) She'll move down the street to First Baptist, or perhaps Mt. Carmel Tabernacle. Later, lets say 2-3 years down the road, her grandson tells her that hes gay, but it's ok, because he still the same person he was, and hes still a Christian. She'll remember the video, look at her grandson, and then think of the man in a dress and wig swinging a thurible. How do you think she'll respond?"

COMMENT: The above comment appeared at a post on Episcopal Cafe in response to a video showing Diocese of New York participation in the 40th Annual Pride Parade. Although I read this comment after my post below - it certainly helps expand what I was trying to say.